Is anyone else TIRED OF BLUESCREEN in SW pics?

I think it's an issue of cost and time. Craftmanships vs scheduling. Building an intricate set involves a lot of time and people which equals a lot of money; and this kills schedules. I think Star Wars suffers more from this than others since they do need to have quality output in terms of futuristic creative design within confined scheduling. If they can deliver cgi constructs as good as or better than the real thing at faster pace without disrupting filming, they will utilize it.

They're basically trying to deliver 100+ million dollar movie that looks like a 400 million dollar one. I guess they're sticking to this method because it enables them to to do just that.

But they did build quite a lot of sets though. They've done some sets and townships in Tunisia, Italy and to a certain extent in Australia.

[This message has been edited by Eddie5 (edited 03-13-2001).]

What the f**k kind of statement is that, Nick?

No, I'm not and I'll tell you why. Everytime I see another shot of Portman, McGregor, or Christansen against the blue screen, I think to myself that after all the years of teasing and baiting us true fans that the prequels are finally being made.

If Lucas needs to shoot most of his cast against fabric to cut corners in order to deliver the best special effects seen (f**k The Matrix, SW Ep 1 should have taken that Oscar), then so it shall be.

Cause with the exception of one or two shots in Episode 1, you can't tell the sets weren't made.

This is a stupid topic...

Django , i agree, nice to see ya whip it out!

I'm gonna have to side with Nick on this one. I've never been able to understand how Terry Gilliam can make a film with wonderful visuals (Brazil) on a far smaller budget. I do feel that computers have taken some of the skill out of movie making. Of course, that's just my opinion and I could be wrong.

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and a voice was screaming: Holy Jesus! What are these damn animals

Saying you're tired of seeing pre-release blue screen set photos of Star Wars is a kin watching a bootleg of the workprint to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or The Matrix and saying you're sick of all the damn visible wires.

Don't like the process? Don't look at the damn photos.

Save your smart-ass comments for when the actual finished movie comes out. If George Lucas wants to shoot the whole damn thing with cardboard cut-outs, who gives a f**k?

He knows what he's doing unlike the rest of us...

Django, you keep a tight reign on those smart-assed commentary guidelines, okay?

Ass.

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Once again, the voice of wisdom speaks through my mouth:

To Nick: I agree that the chroma-screens are a bit of a nuisance, but the only people who will really be affected negatively are the actors themselves.

There are several instances of those unfamiliar with such a large-scale FX film (Neeson among others) who had difficulty acting to characters and scenes that were never there.

I see this as the main problem, if any.

To Django: I salute your zeal and back you as a fellow SW-ite. The backgrounds are indeed time-effective. Lucas has built that most famous special FX house, and has every right to call it into play.

Despite various TPM opinions, I would imagine that evereyone can agree that the combination of artificial CG environments, traditional model and full size sets, and actual Renaissance-style locations were nearly seamless.

Watch the VHS copy of TPM if you have one. The behind the scenes footage at the beginning of the tape shows a scene where a pan from an on-set scene was later blended with a CG-cut shot. (Panning from Qui Gon, Padme and Shmi in the podrace hangar to R2 and C3PO)

It was flawlessly done.

This isn't a bad thing. While it can hurt the actors' performances, the chroma-screen backdrops have been batting well to date.

(In addition, it keeps us rabid fans from getting full detail from "pirated" pictures online.)

Damn... paragraphs. Die everyone. Would ya?

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www.generallogan.com

Funny thing about film acting ... even in a kitchen table drama performers will be acting to elements that aren't there.

True actors can handle this, regardless of genre ... because their craft is about imagination and salesmanship.

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I think I'd rather see pictures with blue screen in the background than those George Lucas Select pictures that are usually so distorted that I can't tell what the hell they are anyway.

Zod, take heart.

The bastard is back.

... and we're all overjoyed ...

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Time

I think people like Nick and myself want to see films use more of the beautiful world in which we live in as the palette, instead of relying on computers.

Don't get me wrong computer technology is great, and I'm glad we have it in cinema today.

But I think it could turn into a crutch for filmmakers that aren't interested in going the extra mile for their films, and would rather just sit and fondle their CGI until the movie that they want comes out. Lucas seems more interested in the technology than the heart of his films. That's the worst possible attitude to have in my opinion.

Besides all that I liked Episode I, and I'm still excited about Episode II.

as is a spell-checker, Nick...

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Hey, that link doesn't work, Xy ...

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I don't know about you guys, but I have no problem whatsoever with the blue screen effects in movies. I say whatever floats your boat. It was said very well above, Lucas has a very good idea where he wants the Star Wars movies to go IN HIS HEAD. The stories do not take place here on earth, it would be way off for the to look like they do
take place here. Look at it this way, as little as 10 years ago the things they do in movies now was unheard of. In this age, anything your mind can think up is possible.
I'm pretty close to a few older folks in my family, one of whom i talked into seeing ID4, and The Matrix who told me afterward, "Oh my God, the future is truly now." To which I said, "And you know what? We're here to see it." Mr. Nunziata, while I respect your stance on the issue, Mr Lucas has given us a wonderful gift that will be around for years and years to come. Let's just enjoy it.

Thank you for your time
Hot Rod, formerly Rhinestone Cowboy

[This message has been edited by Hot Rod (edited 03-14-2001).]

It's a tool. Just like anything else, it has the potential of being misused. Special effects for the sake of special effects is bad...like a whole movie wrapped around an effect. It shouldn't be a mastubatory endeavour.

But if the tool, used correctly within the dynamics of the story that is being told - for practical reasons like time, cost, creative concepts that can be changed at anytime, then that tool, my good buddies, is essential.

Personally, I think Star Wars has a good balance between digital effects and traditional craftsmanship. Checking out the official site would more or less prove this.

That aside, whatever the case may be, the story should take precedence and be the muse for any FX. And it damn well be good. The story, I mean.

Exactly, the FX should complement the story. The Story should not be made around the FX.

Where the argument about the legitimacy of CGI vs reality is interesting, and please continue ... I think Nick's point was that it seems every photo being released is incomplete.

What would be wrong with releasing some photos with the CGI effects filled in? Or some photos that don't require CGI to complete?

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It's true, Blo but Nick did expand his argument to include the whole spectrum of digital effects vs craftsmanship and not just confining it to the photos.

And I'm glad he did. He's given everyone something quite valid and rounded to debate about which is great.

Is bluescreen/digital FX in movies getting old and overused? No, it's a neccessary part of Hollywood filmmaking today from a cost and feasibility standpoint. It's easier to create a digital airplane then it is to rent one from a major airline. It's easier to make outer space in a SGI box than to actually send your actors there. I am of the opinion that set design is enhanced by the removal of limits on time of filming due to availability of sunlight and the inability of filmmakers to substantively restructure an actual location. It's important to movies, and if done well, indistinguishable from the real thing.

Is it getting old that George Lucas needs to remind us 10-12 times a month that he is the undisputed master of CGI? Yes, it is.

All GL's are masters of something. Please specify...

For a couple of minutes I thought Zod was really complimenting me. Damn you other GL's!

In all seriousness though, Nick's speeling was off.

(And yes ...I know.)


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www.generallogan.com

Good, bad...I'm the one with Avid.

"I've never been able to understand how Terry Gilliam can make a film with wonderful visuals (Brazil) on a far smaller budget."
Easy. He filmed them in Britain, where it's cheaper. (See The Wizard of Speed & Time)


"If George Lucas wants to shoot the whole damn thing with cardboard cut-outs, who gives a f**k?"
Twice Upon A Time in a Galaxy Far, Far Away?